ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROVIDED BY ACCREDITED SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE UPPER EAST REGION, GHANA

This study examines the issue of delivery of quality health services in the Bawku Municipality, Ghana. Globally, health quality is increasingly becoming an important aspect of health care.. Patients have become more aware of quality issues and want health care to become safer and of higher quality where the providers have a moral obligation to provide quality and safe care. In many parts of Ghana, studies of patient satisfaction and experiences with health care are carried out regularly, and the results are made available to the public together with other indicators of health care quality but the case in Bawku is different as there is little research regarding the quality of delivery and patient satisfaction rating on the facilities. Hence, this study used a mixed methodology to assess the quality of primary health care provided by Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Vineyard Hospital & Quality Medical Centre. The findings indicate that Ghana Health Service has put in place Quality Assurance systems and structures. Generally, the facilities in Bawku adhere to those standards and services provided by the target facilities are considered satisfactory. However, the absence of visible quality assurance teams in some facilities is not the best. It has therefore been recommended that quality assurance teams be made more effective and efficient. Besides, conditions of service of staff should be improved as well as the physical structure of some of the facilities to ensure delivery of quality services